Without Limits (1998)

This picture is one of the few movies produced by Cruise/Wagner Productions. The production company has the potential for making great movies. I enjoyed this movie because it is about the pursuit of excellency, which I myself try so hard to do. The acting was good, I was especially touched by the performance of Donald Sutherland (Ordinary People) " Bill Bowerman." One can try to do their best and achieve their potential but someone else might be slightly better. We should never compare ourselves to other people but just be the best that we can be, to endure hardship and have much discipline. That is the core of what I learned from this movie. I watched Tom Cruise talking about the movie and decided that I liked the concept. It was indeed a good movie. The movie was sad at times but it is a solid story that will move you! My favorite scenes: "Steve Prefontaine" Billy Crudup (Inventing the Abbotts) running in the woods. My favorite quotes:" When you believe in something you tend to make people very, very nervous." "It is easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission." " Be thankful for your limits in this life, they are just about limitless as they get in this life."

Fmovies: I love this movie. I was never really into running until I met all the amazing people on my high school track team. and then I became great friends with them and One introduced me to Prefontaine, and this movie. Ever since Its been my motivation to keep running. when I get down I watch it and i immediately want to go out for "an easy ten" and even though I never get to 10 it still motivates me to work my best. and to make me push myself to the greatest extent I can. Throughout the movie Bowerman's quotes and just words to Steve and the other runners are great advice and a great way to bring your team together. It worked for my team and If you're a runner maybe it would work for yours too. Prefontaine is a group hero and role model for my entire XC and distance track team and it really brings us together. Pre was an amazing runner and his legacy will live on in runners hearts and lives forever. Pre was and is an American running hero.

While I did not know Steve Prefontaine personally, I am the age he would be now and I remember him and the incredible records he set, as though it happened yesterday. I routinely devoured the sports pages to read anything about him. And, from all that I do remember, this film was made based on truth. It was also extraordinarily well-cast and well-acted. Donald Sutherland is the consummate character actor, literally BECOMING Bill Bowerman. Billy Crudup, as well, WAS "Pre"! And he has a stunning future (he was great in "Almost Famous"). I would like to see more of Monica Potter, who is quietly making a name for herself. I enjoyed the reality of the script by Robert Towne and Kenny Moore. And Towne's direction assured that no one overacted, as I believe occurred in another docu/film on the same subject recently. The cinematography made me yearn for Oregon once more, and the editing, as it is supposed to do, completed the work with its continuity: I never felt as though I wasn't brought naturally from one scene to the next. I have seen this film a half-dozen times and could watch it again and again - if only for the "race" footage! Steve Prefontaine, after all, was this country's best middle and long distance runner, and moreover, its quintessential athlete - American to the core.

Without Limits fmovies. A fascinating and unique story of the legendary American distance Steve Prefontaine, who is portrayed here by Billy Crudup. To be honest here, I haven't seen the other film that was based on Pre's life ("Prefontaine"). This film places the majority of its' attention solely on the relationship between Pre (Crudup) and his coach in college and the Olympics, Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland). Like Crudup, Sutherland is near perfect here and should rank as one of his best performances. The monologue that Sutherland gives after showing television news footage of the infamous massacre that tarnished the Summer games in Munich is just...flawless. Monica Potter is fine here as the girl who Prefontaine had the most interest in. Look for director William Friedkin appears early in the movie in a small role. The film's director/co-writer, Robert Towne is wise in how to handle the drama and tension here and shows what a genius he is. Now that I look back at the film, I wonder if there'll be another great distance runner to come from the U.S.. The answer might come in Alan Webb? I don't know.

This movie truly handled the true life story of Steve Prefontaine with care. The photography was stunning. It was filmed on location in Eugene Oregon. Tom Cruise Produced the picture and his choice for director was key. Robert Towne Directed and co- wrote the screenplay.

Most people think of Mr. Towne as a writer. His movies include the screen play for Mission Impossible and the Classic, China Town. China Town brought him both the Oscar and the Golden Globe for best Original Screenplay. He has directed very few films over the years but the fit for this project was on the mark.

Steve Prefontaine was a larger then life figure. To tell his story right Robert really had to do his home work. He chose to film the actual locations surrounding Prefontaines life. This really gave it a realistic feel. To see the actual track where Steve broke almost every long distance record on the books. The track where he was never defeated. That had a lot of meaning. Just a side note: This track today, is the site of the Pre- Classic. It's one of the worlds biggest track events of the year. The worlds top track and field star's take part in this event.

I had the good fortune to play an extra in this film. I owned a 1965 Pontiac. Warner Brothers was scouting out some car shows and asked if they could use my car in the movie. ( you can see it in the outside scene in front of the bar called, The Pad). Later I was asked If i would like to appear as an extra. Of course i said yes. After a long shoot the director, Robert Town came over and asked me to go to makeup. He had a scene for me. I was to appear with Billy Crubup, who played Steve Prefontaine and Monica Potter who played Mary Marchx his girl friend. Although the scene was cut from the movie, i got to meet some wonderful people. I had breakfast with Billy who turned out to be a warm person and later met Monica who seemed to be lonely during the long down times between takes.

As i was moving my Pontiac on the set, Donald Sutherland who was going over his script for an upcoming scene, came over to me and told me how much he like my car. I showed him around and he seemed interested. He was really a great guy.

I bring all this up to point out that a lot of wonderful people who took pride in their craft came together and put out a wonderful picture. If you haven't seen it, watch it I know you will enjoy it.

I have always been a huge fan of Robert Towne ever since I first saw Chinatown. I haven't seen a disappointing film of his other than Mission: Impossible 2, Without Limits was far from a letdown.

I'm not sure how much poetic license Towne used to make the film, for I never have been a fan of running or any other athletics and so have never really known anything about the characters, but like in the cases of The Insider or Quiz Show I truly don't care as long as he didn't get too muddled up in fiction.

The story is well told with great performances and a superb soundtrack, the greatest treat of all being Donald Sutherland's fantastic performance as Bill Bowerman. This bit of acting makes me wonder how once again Sutherland could be forgotten by the Oscars. With a career including such great roles as in M*A*S*H, Klute and Ordinary People, the fact that he is still cheated of even a nomination bewilders me, especially when this film came in a year where the only true competition for such a performance was Geoffrey Rush's scene stealing work in Elizabeth. (To all of you who agree with James Coburn's win, I haven't seen Affliction.)